Buckingham Palace press releases

ANNOUNCEMENT OF A NEW APPOINTMENT TO THE ORDER OF THE GARTER

22 April 2008

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN

The Queen has been graciously pleased to appoint His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales to be a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

Prince William becomes the 1000th Knight in the Register.

The Queen has also been graciously pleased to appoint the Right Honourable the Lord Luce, GCVO, DL and Sir Thomas Dunne, KCVO, to be Knights Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

Notes for Editors:
Members of the Royal family are additional to the established number of 24 Companions.  The Duke of Edinburgh was created a Knight in 1947 by King George VI, The Prince of Wales in 1958, The Duke of Kent in 1985, The Princess Royal in 1994, The Duke of Gloucester in 1997 and Princess Alexandra in 2003.  The Duke of York and The Earl of Wessex were both created Knights in 2006.

The appointment of the Knights and Ladies of the Garter is in The Queen's gift (i.e. without Prime Ministerial advice).  Appointments to the Order of the Garter are therefore in the same category as the Order of the Thistle, the Order of Merit and the Royal Victorian Order which are also in The Queen's gift.  Today's announcement brings the number of Companion Knights to the maximum number of 24.

Lord Luce was Lord Chamberlain from 2000 to 2006.  Sir Thomas Dunne is Lord-Lieutenant of Hereford (since 1977) and Chairman of the Lord Lieutenants Association.

Find out more about the Order of the Garter

THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF THE GARTER

SOVEREIGN OF THE ORDER
THE QUEEN

LADIES OF THE ORDER
HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS ROYAL,
23rd April, 1994.
HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS ALEXANDRA, THE HONOURABLE LADY OGILVY,
23rd April, 2003.

ROYAL KNIGHTS COMPANION
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH,
19th November, 1947.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES,
26th July, 1958.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF KENT,
9th October, 1985.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER,
23rd April, 1997.
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF YORK,
23rd April, 2006
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE EARL OF WESSEX,
23rd April, 2006
 
EXTRA KNIGHTS COMPANION AND LADIES OF THE ORDER
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS GRAND DUKE JEAN OF LUXEMBOURG,
14th June, 1972.
HER MAJESTY MARGRETHE II, QUEEN OF DENMARK,
16th May, 1979.
HIS MAJESTY CARL XVI GUSTAF, KING OF SWEDEN,
25th May, 1983.
HIS MAJESTY JUAN CARLOS I, KING OF SPAIN,
17th October, 1988.
HER MAJESTY BEATRIX, QUEEN OF THE NETHERLANDS,
28th June, 1989.
HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY AKIHITO, EMPEROR OF JAPAN,
26th May, 1998.
HIS MAJESTY HARALD V, KING OF NORWAY,
30th May, 2001.

OFFICERS OF THE ORDER
Prelate
The Bishop of Winchester
(The Right Reverend Michael Charles SCOTT-JOYNT)
Chancellor
The Right Honourable Lord CARRINGTON, K.G., G.C.M.G., C.H., M.C.
Register
The Dean of Windsor
(The Right Reverend David John CONNER)
Garter King of Arms
Peter Llewellyn GWYNN-JONES, ESQ., C.V.O.
Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod
Lieutenant General Sir Michael Alan WILLCOCKS, K.C.B.
Secretary
Patric Laurence DICKINSON, L.V.O.
Richmond Herald of Arms
 
COMPANIONS (maximum 24)
The Most Noble Hugh Denis Charles,
 Duke of GRAFTON, K.G.
  23rd April, 1976.
The Right Honourable Gordon William Humphreys,
 Lord RICHARDSON OF DUNTISBOURNE, K.G., M.B.E., T.D.
  22nd April, 1983.
The Right Honourable Peter Alexander Rupert,
 Lord CARRINGTON, K.G., G.C.M.G., C.H., M.C.
  23rd April, 1985.
The Most Noble Arthur Valerian,
 Duke of WELLINGTON, K.G., L.V.O., O.B.E., M.C.
  23rd April, 1990.
Field Marshal the Right Honourable Edwin Noel Westby,
 Lord BRAMALL, K.G., G.C.B., O.B.E., M.C.
  23rd April, 1990.
The Right Honourable Matthew White,
 Viscount RIDLEY, K.G., G.C.V.O., T.D.
  23rd April, 1992.
The Right Honourable John Davan,
 Lord SAINSBURY OF PRESTON CANDOVER, K.G.
  23rd April, 1992.
The Right Honourable John Francis Harcourt,
 Lord ASHBURTON, K.G., K.C.V.O.
  23rd April, 1994.
The Right Honourable Robert,
 Lord KINGSDOWN, K.G.
  23rd April, 1994.
The Right Honourable Sir Ninian Martin STEPHEN,
 K.G., A.K., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O., K.B.E., Q.C.
  23rd April, 1994.
The Right Honourable Margaret Hilda,
 Lady THATCHER, L.G., O.M., F.R.S.
  22nd April, 1995.
Sir Timothy James Alan COLMAN, K.G.
  23rd April, 1996.
The Most Noble James,
 Duke of ABERCORN, K.G.
  23rd April, 1999.
Sir Erskine William GLADSTONE, Bt., K.G.
  23rd April, 1999.
Field Marshal the Right Honourable Peter Anthony,
 Lord INGE, K.G., G.C.B.
  23rd April, 2001.
Sir Antony Arthur ACLAND, K.G., G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O.
  23rd April, 2001.
The Most Noble Gerald Cavendish,
 Duke of WESTMINSTER, K.G., O.B.E., T.D.
  23rd April, 2003.
The Right Honourable Frederick Edward Robin,
 Lord BUTLER OF BROCKWELL, K.G., G.C.B., C.V.O.
  23rd April, 2003.
The Right Honourable John,
 Lord MORRIS OF ABERAVON, K.G., Q.C.
  23rd April, 2003.
Mary, The Right Honourable Lady SOAMES, L.G., D.B.E.
  23rd April, 2005.
The Right Honourable Thomas Henry,
 Lord BINGHAM OF CORNHILL, K.G.
  23rd April, 2005.
The Right Honourable Sir John MAJOR, K.G., C.H.
  23rd April, 2005.